Editorial: Voters send message on N.Y. ethics

As usual, voter turnout was pathetic in primaries throughout New York last week, but voters did at least make some hugely important statements.

In particular, Eliot Spitzer and Anthony Weiner were sent packing; their hopes for political comebacks were crushed, at least for now.

Not getting as many headlines but nevertheless significant - former state Assemblyman Vito Lopez, who resigned earlier this year amid sexual harassment complaints from female aides, lost a bid for a New York City Council seat.

Voters do have the final say when politicians cross the line and involve themselves in questionable, if not outrageous or illegal, behavior. But that also means voters have to take their responsibility seriously, starting with learning as much about the candidates as possible and ending with actually coming out to the polls to cast their ballot.

Although he stepped down as governor in utter disgrace over a prostitution scandal in 2008, Spitzer sought the New York City comptroller position this year.

At one point, he was comfortably ahead in the polls, but Scott Stringer, the Manhattan borough president, ran a determined and disciplined race against him and prevailed, 52 percent to 48 percent.

Weiner's path was even more volatile.

Caught sending explicit photographs of himself to women online, Weiner stepped down as a U.S. congressman in 2011. But he was running favorably in the polls in the New York City mayoral race until he conceded that his "problem" with explicit texting did not go away after his resignation from Congress and initial mea culpa. He subsequently tanked in the polls and lost by a large margin last week.

As for Lopez, his sexual harassment scandal led state Democratic leaders, including Speaker Sheldon Silver, to agree to make a $103,000 settlement to victims, something initially done in secret.

Silver acknowledges the settlement was handled inappropriately but nevertheless continues to hold on to his powerful speaker position.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo and Attorney General Eric Schneiderman have created an anti-corruption commission to investigate New York's political system, something that should have been done a long time ago. More than 30 lawmakers have run into some kind of legal or ethical troubles over the past 12 years alone.

This commission has been given sweeping powers and must use them to great ability. But voters surely must know by now that having politicians police themselves is, at best, only part of the answer. Voters have a major role and much authority too. Last week, it was good to see them wield their power and send the message that, when it comes to all these political scandals, they have had more than enough.

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Editorial: Voters send message on N.Y. ethics

As usual, voter turnout was pathetic in primaries throughout New York last week, but voters did at least make some hugely important statements.